Chisnall On Top In Barnsley

DAVE CHISNALL claimed his third PDC ProTour victory of 2013 after defeating Robert Thornton 6-3 in Saturday’s Players Championship at the Barnsley Metrodome.

The St Helens ace began with wins over Martyn Turner and John Bowles before coming from 5-4 down to edge out in Vincent van der Voort in their last 32 clash.

Chisnall defeated Brandon Walsh before overcoming St Helens rival Michael Smith 6-3 to reach the semi-finals where he defied a 111 average to overhaul Peter Wright 6-4, winning six of the last seven legs.

The world number seven fell 2-1 down to Robert Thornton in the early stages of the decider, the Scot twice hitting tops to break, before putting together a run of three straight legs to hold a 4-2 advantage.

Chisnall took out a 100 finish for an 11-dart leg for a 5-2 lead before Thornton landed double four to keep the game alive with a 13-darter, but St Helens star sealed his win by landing double 18 to take away the winners prize of £10,000.

Robert Thornton, who enjoyed a fine run to the final of the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton last weekend, continued that good form with his run to the final in Barnsley.

He reached the last 32 with comfortable wins over Denis Ovens - on his return from carpal tunnel surgery in his throwing arm - and Dutch youngster Ryan De Vreede before edging out rising star Ross Smith by a 6-4 margin.

The Scotsman claimed a narrow 6-5 win over Andy Smith in their last 16 encounter before recording a brace of 6-3 wins over Justin Pipe and Mark Dudbridge.

That secured his place in the final, but after a bright start to lead 2-1 he eventually lost 6-3 to Chisnall, having to settle for the £5,000 runners-up prize.

World number 16 Peter Wright enjoyed another excellent ProTour run on Saturday with a semi-final appearance at the Barnsley Metrodome.

The Scot hit a 112.14 average against Darren Webster in his quarter-final win and continued that form in the early stages of his last four clash against Chisnall were he went 3-0 up with a 119 average before his opponent roared back to deny Wright a place in the final.

Mark Dudbridge, who reached the World Championship final in 2005, reached the semi-finals of a ProTour event for the second time in six weeks to continue his late push to qualify for Alexandra Palace.

The Bristolian edged out Simon Whitlock with a brilliant 6-5 win before coming on top in another deciding-leg battle against James Richardson to reach the last 32.

There, he defeated Welsh star Richie Burnett 6-1 before overcoming another World Champion in the shape of Steve Beaton to reach the last eight.

Dudbridge continued his fine display as he beat Kevin Painter 6-3 with the aid of a 136 checkout, before running out of steam against Thornton in the last four.

Painter and Justin Pipe took away £1,500 in prize money by reaching the quarter-finals along with the impressive Darren Webster, who forced his way into the provisional top 32 qualifiers for next weekend's Cash Converters Players Championship Finals as a result.

Michael Smith also reached the last eight on Saturday, which cemented him in 32nd place in the PDC Order of Merit - £1,950 ahead of Colin Osborne - in the race for automatic World Championship places.

Eccles’ Peter Hudson enjoyed a fine run to the last 16 while 20-year-old Brandon Walsh produced his best performance on the ProTour to date by reaching the same stage.

Prominent first round casualties included three major champions in the shape of Simon Whitlock, Gary Anderson and Paul Nicholson, while major finalists Wes Newton and Colin Osborne were also defeated – leaving the Derby man’s hopes of World Championship qualification hanging by a thread.

The former UK Open finalist lies outside the automatic top 16 qualification places in the ProTour Order of Merit - £450 behind Mark Dudbridge and John Bowles, who are currently tied for 16th place.

Sunday sees a second Players Championship event take place at the Barnsley Metrodome, which is the final cut-off for places in the Cash Converters Players Championship Finals at the Butlins Minehead Resort next weekend.

Sunday’s Players Championship will also decide who qualifies for the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship from the PDC Order of Merit and the Pro Tour Order of Merit.

The final two places in the 72 player field in London will come from the PDPA Qualifier taking place on Monday, which will again be staged at the Barnsley Metrodome.

Final - Leg-by-Leg
Robert Thornton v Dave Chisnall
1-0 - Thornton hits back-to-back 140s to take command before landing tops to win the opening leg against the darts.
1-1 - The Scotsman kicks-off with a 180 but a host of missed doubles sees Chisnall snatch the leg on double eight to level the match.
2-1 - Thornton regains the lead by converting a 102 finish with his opponent waiting on 32.
2-2 - Thornton misses a dart at tops for 3-1 lead and Chisnall lands double nine to level for a second time.
2-3 - Chisnall leads for the first time as he posts a maximum before hitting double top for a 60 finish.
2-4 - The St Helens ace registers another 180 before landing double four to win a third leg in a row.
2-5 - Chisnall converts a 100 finsh to move a leg away from victory.
3-5 - Thornton stops the rot as he hits double four in a leg which included a 180 from the Scotsman.
3-6 - Thornton misses a dart at tops and Chisnall seals victory by landing double 18.